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Re: Mark VI sopranos: Engraved vs Non Engraved

Every Mk V1 I've bought in the UK since the late 70's ( about 6 to date) has been engraved. Most US horns I've seen haven't been engraved. My US nino is unengraved.
I've seen a few unengraved Paris assemble sops but most have been engraved..

Re: Mark VI sopranos: Engraved vs Non Engraved

Sopranos didn't really become common and popular (since the 1920's) until the mid 1970's, about the time the Mark VII was introduced. At that time Selmer USA began importing horns directly from France, as opposed to them being sent in parts to be assembled in Elkhart. Most of these horns initially were not engraved. Engraving was optional in Europe at an extra cost. Thus the large percentage of Mark VII's and VI Sopranos without engraving. The excuse/story/tale given was that the engraver died. The reality was probably that there was a cost savings to the dealer. I believe all Selmer France horns have come assembled directly from France since then and are currently engraved with the French "Butterfly" pattern.